The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe

by J. Randy Taraborrelli

  Special acknowledgment must be extended to the family of Bea Thomas, who knew Grace Goddard. Ms. Thomas was interviewed in January 1990 by Elvin Summer for a family history. I obtained that history from a private source.

  Thanks also to Esther Thompson, whose mother, Ruth, worked with Grace McKee at Consolidated Studios. Ms. Thompson spent many hours with me reconstructing certain events for this book and I thank her for the interviews I conducted with her on July 2, 2007, and February 1, 2008.

  Mary Robin Alexander’s father, Albert, was a close, personal friend of George and Maud Atkinson’s. I thank her for sharing her dad’s memories of the Atkinsons and Norma Jeane Mortensen with me on July 2, 2007, and August 11, 2007.

  Dia Nanouris’s mother was an assistant film editor at Columbia who worked with Grace Goddard at that company. She provided absolutely invaluable insight in my interview with her on December 15, 2007.

  Also, Eleanor Ray’s mother knew Grace Goddard and Ms. Ray spent many hours with my researchers in preparation for this book. I interviewed her as well on February 1, 2008. Also, she provided me with details of Grace Goddard’s suicide found in California State File #53–087308.

  Thanks to Elliot Ross for providing us with the files of the Los Angeles Orphans’ Home having to do with “Norma Jeane Baker,” including correspondence from 1937 relating to Grace Goddard, Ida Bolender, and the orphanage’s headmistress, Sula Dewey. Also, Magda Bernard’s stepbrother, Tony, was at the orphanage at the same time as Norma Jeane, and Ms. Bernard provided me with a terrific amount of background and color when I interviewed her on March 2, 2008, and April 13, 2008.

  For many sections of this book, I also relied on voluminous correspondence between Norma Jeane and her half sister, Berniece, which has fallen into the public domain as a result of its placement in public auctions over the years.

  Marybeth Miller-Donovan’s aunt, Ethel, was Ana Lower’s best friend. She provided me with great detail and insight into Norma Jeane’s time with her beloved aunt when I interviewed her on March 11, 2008.

  I also referenced personal correspondence that had been exchanged between the Bolender family members, obtained from a private source.

  I referred to the many notes and transcripts of Ben Hecht, the original ghostwriter for Marilyn’s autobiography, Marilyn: My Story. All of Hecht’s notes and other paperwork regarding this book are found in his personal collection at the Newberry Library in Chicago.

  I interviewed James Dougherty, Norma Jeane’s first husband, in May 1999 and utilized parts of that interview in this work. I also referred to Jane Wilkie’s interview with Mr. Dougherty for “Marilyn Monroe Was My Wife,” Photoplay, March 1953. Moreover, I referenced Mr. Dougherty’s 1976 memoir, The Secret Happiness of Marilyn Monroe.

  I also referred to “Body and Soul: A Portrait of Marilyn Monroe Showing Why Gentlemen Prefer That Blonde,” by Barbara Berch Jamison in the New York Times, July 12, 1953.

  Moreover, I referenced: The Divorce petition of Della Monroe Graves vs. Lyle Arthur Graves, Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Petition #D-10379; Gifford vs. Gifford, Superior Court of the State of California, Divorce Petition #D-24788. Divorce Petition of Baker vs. Baker, Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Petition #D-10379; Mortensen vs. Baker, County of Los Angeles, File #053720; Gladys Baker/Edward Mortensen, California State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, register no. 13794; Death Certificate of Tilford Marion Hogan, Missouri State Board of Health, File #17075; Norma Jean Dougherty, Plaintiff vs. James Edward Dougherty, Defendant, #31146, Eighth Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada, Clark County, July 5, 1946.

  PART TWO: TRANSITIONING

  Charles Stanley Gifford Jr.—son of Charles Stanley Gifford (who Gladys Baker said was Norma Jeane’s father)—was very helpful in filling in details of these early years. He was interviewed on May 9, 2008.

  Alexander Howell, the great-nephew of Chester Howell, was helpful in helping us reconstruct Norma Jeane’s wedding to James Dougherty. I interviewed him on June 10, 2007.

  Martin Evans was a close friend of James Dougherty’s. His memory was vital to understanding Dougherty’s marriage to Norma Jeane, and I appreciate the interviews I conducted with him on May 20, 2007, July 30, 2007, and April 11, 2008.

  Anna DeCarlo’s mother, Florence, worked at Radioplane during the time that Norma Jeane was employed by that company. I interviewed her on May 22, 2007, and her stories were vital to my research.

  I also relied on Mona Rae and Berniece Miracle’s wonderful book, My Sister, Marilyn, for certain details in this section and in others in this book.

  I had a number of sources with connections to the Agnews State Hospital in San Jose, California, who asked for anonymity, and I will of course respect their wishes. I also obtained from a private source all of Gladys Baker’s medical records from that hospital.

  John Leonard’s father, Mack, was a friend of Gladys Baker’s, and he was vital in reconstructing Gladys’s search for her children. I interviewed John Leonard and his wife, Marcia, on November 11, 2007, and November 20, 2007.

  I must acknowledge sources in the Cohen family who asked for anonymity and who provided information having to do with Gladys Baker’s work for Margaret and John Cohen. Also, these sources provided the correspondence between Gladys Baker and the Cohens, which is referenced in Part Three of this book.

  Marilyn’s friend Michael Shaw was also very helpful in reconstructing certain events in this section of the book, and I thank him for his enthusiastic cooperation. He was interviewed by Cathy Griffin on April 17, 2008.

  I also referred to “The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe” by Maurice Zolotow in American Weekly, October 23, 1955.

  PART THREE: MARILYN

  Norman Brokaw, the esteemed entertainment agent, provided details for this and other sections of the book. He rarely grants interviews, and never about Marilyn Monroe and his uncle, Johnny Hyde. Therefore, I thank him for his trust. His cooperation was invaluable. Cathy Griffin interviewed him on May 14, 2008, and May 16, 2008.

  Beverly Kramer’s father, Marvin, managed the Pacific Seas dining room in Los Angeles, which was frequented by Grace and Doc Goddard. I thank her for her memories and also the family photographs she shared when I interviewed her on May 11, 2007.

  Diana Herbert, whose father, F. Hugh Herbert, wrote the screenplay to Scudda-Hoo! Scudda-Hay!, was very helpful in providing details for this and other sections of the book when Cathy Griffin interviewed her on April 10, 2008, and April 15, 2008.

  Helena Albert, a student of Natasha Lytess’s, provided many of the details of the relationship between Natasha and Marilyn for this and other sections of the book. Susan Martinson was also a student and friend of Lytess’s and was key in the writing of many parts of this book. I interviewed Ms. Albert on June 15, 2007, and Ms. Martinson on January 4, 2008. Ms. Martinson was also interviewed by Marybeth Evans on May 15, 2008. Also, I referred to Jane Wilkie’s interview with Ms. Lytess. Moreover—and maybe most importantly—I relied heavily on a manuscript of Natasha Lytess’s unpublished memoir, which can only be found at the University of Texas but a copy of which was purchased by a private party who then allowed me to carefully review it for this book.

  Bill Davis worked at the William Morris Agency with Johnny Hyde and was key to understanding Hyde and his romance with Marilyn Monroe. Mr. Davis was interviewed by Marybeth Evans on December 1, 2007, and by me on March 11, 2008.

  Marybeth Hughes once dated Johnny Hyde and was instrumental in this and other sections of the book. I thank her for her trust and for her interview of February 28, 2008.

  Susan Reimer is the niece of Charles Stanley Gifford. She was very helpful in compiling information for this and other sections of the book. I interviewed her on January 12, 2008.

  I also referred to Screenwriter: The Life and Times of Nunnally Johnson by Tom Stempel.

  PART FOUR: STARDOM

  Jerry Eidelman was a friend of Marilyn Monroe’s and was very kind to share his memor
ies of her with us for this and other sections of the book when I interviewed him on August 1, 2007, September 13, 2007, and January 10, 2008.

  Rupert Allan was one of Marilyn’s closest confidants. I had the opportunity to meet with him several times, first on March 13, 1985, then again in 1988 and 1989. I used my interviews with him in my book on Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier, Once Upon a Time, since he was Monaco’s counsel general in Los Angeles as well as a very close friend of Ms. Kelly’s. I also utilized his comments in The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe. Primarily, I also used transcripts of Bruce Ebner’s interviews with Mr. Allan as the foundation of much of my research for this book. I also conducted a telephone interview with the ailing but always cooperative Allan in the summer of 1992.

  My thanks to John Gilmore for his interview, conducted by Cathy Griffin on April 10, 2008. He was another good friend of Marilyn’s and contributed greatly to this book.

  Thanks again to Norman Brokaw for his anecdotes about his friend Joe DiMaggio, utilized in this section of the book.

  Also, I interviewed two women who worked at Homestead Lodge during the time that Gladys Baker was an employee at that Eagle Rock, California, facility. Both sources asked for anonymity, and I will grant it. However, they know who they are and how much I appreciate their cooperation with this book.

  PART FIVE: DIFFICULT TIMES

  My thanks to Wesley Miller, who as a young man worked as a paralegal for the firm of Wright, Wright, Green & Wright, the law firm that represented Marilyn in the 1950s. He was very helpful to me when I interviewed him on March 2, 2008, and March 20, 2008. I value his friendship as well.

  The police officers who cooperated with me in this section of the book asked for anonymity. I appreciate their kindnesses and memories very much.

  As a teenager, Marvina Williams worked as an aide at Rock Haven Sanitarium in La Crescenta. She spent many hours with me on December 11, 2007, December 12, 2007, December 20, 2007, and January 12, 2008, reviewing her memories of Gladys Baker’s time at that facility. I thank her for her time and also her many photographs.

  Thanks to Stanley Rubin, producer of River of No Return, for his interview, conducted by Cathy Griffin on April 24, 2008, a very rare treat.

  Special thanks to the lovely Jane Russell for her interview, conducted by Cathy Griffin on April 20, 2008. We also referred to Ms. Russell’s appearance on The Sally Jessy Raphael Show, April 15, 1992, as well as her memoir, Jane Russell: My Paths and My Detours.

  I interviewed the inimitable Joey Bishop on May 5, 1997.

  I interviewed Esther Williams on May 16, 1997, a lovely lady.

  Stacy Edwards was a close friend of Joe DiMaggio and I don’t think this section of the book could have been written without his cooperation. I thank him very much for the interviews I conducted with him on April 11, 2007, June 1, 2007, July 13, 2007, and March 1, 2008. Regarding DiMaggio, I also referenced Joe & Marilyn by Roger Kahn; Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio? by Maury Allen; and Joe & Marilyn: The Ultimate L.A Love Story by Maurice Zolotow.

  Sydney Guilaroff’s comments are extracted from Cathy Griffin’s many interviews with him in 1995. I also referred to his autobiography, written with Ms. Griffin, Crowning Glory: Reflections of Hollywood’s Favorite Confidant, published in 1996. Guilaroff’s five decades in the motion picture business and intimate friendships with the biggest stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age made his memoirs the most eagerly awaited autobiography of its kind. Cathy first met him in 1993 when she interviewed him for an A&E documentary on Elizabeth Taylor. She allowed me to review copious notes and transcripts from her work with Mr. Guilaroff, which I utilized in this and many other sections of The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe.

  Marybeth Cooke worked for Marilyn’s attorney, Jerry Geisler, and was very helpful with all aspects of this book. I thank her for spending so much time with me on November 1, 2007, December 12, 2007, and April 11, 2008.

  Research material regarding The Wrong Door Raid—including my interview with Hal Schaeffer (conducted on November 1, 1996)—was conducted for my book Sinatra: A Complete Life, and now also utilized in The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe. My interviews with Frank’s friend Jimmy Whiting were conducted on April 2, 1995, and May 4, 1996. I interviewed Joe Dougherty, who worked for City Detective and Guard Services, on January 11, 2008. I also had access to Cathy Griffin’s taped interviews with the late private investigator Fred Otash for background material regarding The Wrong Door Raid, as well as the Confidential magazine report in February 1957 and many court documents relating to that particular case. I also reviewed notes and other unpublished material from the Los Angeles Examiner’s file on the “raid” and on subsequent hearings about it.

  I also referred to “The Strange Case of Marilyn Monroe vs. the U.S. Army,” by Robert C. Jennings, Los Angeles Magazine, August 1966.

  Finally, I also referred to many interoffice memos to the staff at Famous Artists Agency, found in the Charles K. Feldman Papers at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, as well as the rest of Feldman’s papers, including his many appointment books.

  PART SIX: VOICES

  Importantly, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Arthur Miller in 1987 when he was on his book tour for his memoir, Timebends. I found him maddeningly difficult and not at all open, despite the fact that his book is incredibly candid. I even wondered at the time if he had written his own memoir! Of course, I was sure he had—though one would never know it if judging from his evasive demeanor, especially when it came to discussing his marriage to Miss Monroe. However, I did draw upon that interview for this book. In retrospect, of course, it was an honor to interview such a literary icon.

  I also turned to the Arthur Miller Collection at the University of Texas, which I found very enlightening—mostly, though, in regard to his plays, including The Crucible and After the Fall. Also, the Joseph Raugh Collection at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., proved invaluable in confirming certain details about the Monroe-Miller alliance. I also referred to the John Huston Collection at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills.

  I also referred to “The Un-American Activities in California—The (California) Senate Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities, Third, Fourth and Fifth Reports” (Sacramento, California, 1947), which is on file at the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

  I reviewed the personal papers and files of columnist Sidney Skolsky and the files of the Production Code Administration, also on file at the Margaret Herrick Library.

  Thanks to Mable Whittington, who worked at Parkside House in London, for her memories of Marilyn and Arthur Miller, which she shared with me on March 12, 2008.

  I interviewed Susan Strasberg in June 1997. I also referred to her memoirs, Bittersweet and Marilyn and Me: Sisters, Rivals, Friends. What a delightful woman. She is missed by many.

  I also referenced Lee Strasberg’s 20th Century-Fox legal files.

  Edward Lovitz was a personal friend of Arthur Miller’s who spent many long hours with me discussing Miller’s marriage to Marilyn on September 1, 2007, and September 15, 2007. I so appreciate his assistance.

  I interviewed the delightful Mitzi Gaynor in January 1997 for my Sinatra biography. I interviewed Billy Wilder in February 1997 as well, a charming fellow and quite helpful.

  Cathy Griffin interviewed Jeanne Martin (Dean’s wife) on October 22, 1998, and then again in 1999 and in 2001, and parts of those interviews were used in this volume.

  I interviewed Tony Curtis in January 2000 and appreciated his help very much.

  My thanks to Melissa Steinberg for her assistance in this section as well, and for the interview she granted me on May 11, 2007.

  I also referred to the 1988 documentary Remembering Marilyn, narrated by Lee Remick and directed by Andrew Solt.

  Cathy Griffin interviewed Diahann Carroll on April 21, 2008. A side note: I also interviewed Ms. Carroll on July 24, 1975—one of my first interviews af
ter moving to Los Angeles to become a reporter. I didn’t even have a driver’s license yet—but I did have a tape recorder! I never had the opportunity to thank her for granting a young writer such an important interview, so I’d like to do that right now: Thank you so much, Miss Carroll, for being so kind to me way back when.

  PART SEVEN: SLOW DEATH

  Regarding Dr. Ralph Greenson, Dr. Milton Wexler, and Dr. Marianne Kris:

  Cathy Griffin conducted interviews with Dr. Greenson’s widow, Hildy, on June 4, 1991, and on June 24, 1991. I directly and indirectly utilized both lengthy interviews in The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe.

  I also referred to The Technique and Practice of Psychoanalysis by Dr. Ralph Greenson and On Loving, Hating and Living Well: The Public and Psychoanalytic Lectures of Dr. Ralph Greenson by Dr. Ralph Greenson, as well as scores of the doctor’s papers and correspondence, all found in the Greenson Collection at the UCLA library. Among this collection is Greenson’s complete and unpublished memoir, “My Father the Doctor,” which proved absolutely invaluable to my research. I also referred to “Special Problems in Psychotherapy with the Rich and Famous,” dated August 18, 1978, and found in the UCLA Collection.

  A number of highly respected California psychiatrists who either once worked with Dr. Greenson or who were otherwise associated with him were also interviewed for this book and requested that I preserve their anonymity. Moreover, I had two independent and invaluable sources in the Greenson family who asked for anonymity as well.